Arrghhhh being a working mum

[SecondMrsS]

I don't know if this is the right place to post as I'm hardly 'going back to work' have bloody been here since DD was 4 months old and shes now 5.. I should be used to it.

But I need some support from people who know how it feels to wear two incredibly big hats and to be so tired and stressed you want to screeeeeeeeam!

"aarghhh" from me too.

Still not used to it either. All the organisation in the world won't stop my toddlers (4 & 2) running riot / getting sick / generally making life stupidly complicated.

Aaaaaarrrhhh too!!

But it does get easier (my 3 are teenagers now) and then you've got all the advantages of a good career, pension etc

I'm with you...

I went back to work 6 weeks ago and am really struggling at the moment...was rather hoping it was down to my bad organisational skills, mumsnetting when I should be ironing work clothes for tomorrow and the change in routine...

Maybe you need a better job? I have felt like that before but now I have a job I like it is much easier even though nothing in my work-life balance has changed, in fact, my commute is worse!

a) Do you have a partner?

If no, sorry, not much advice except to grab me-time when you can. Exercise works for me. It sounds counter-intuitive but gives me more energy.

If yes...
b) Do you split the work/organisation with him 50/50?

If no, kick him up the arse, get him to help more and get out for that me-time.

If yes, well, perhaps you just need a holiday? And to look at what you can scale back on all your schedules.

If it's just a MN-ly pat on the shoulder and a "there, there, have some wine, it's tough but you can do it", well, I offer you one of those. It is bloody hard work. I'm currently trying to get my DH to Take An Interest in the organisation of the household. Sigh....

Oh, and stop ironing. There is No Need!

It's incredibly difficult to juggle so many balls! It is very stressful at times and very often what we need ourselves gets put to bottom priority. I have a Dh and four kids, three are teenagers and I find it difficult to make sure everyone does their fair bit of jobs. They have all been so used to me doing it all but it becomes physically impossible to do it all. So feel free to aaaaaarrrgh as we all need to do that sometimes.

I'm exactly the same as you, SecondMrsS. I went back to work when dd was 3.5 months, she's now 5 and I still hate it, can't manage it all, want to give up TODAY, colleagues complain I'm never doing enough because I work 50% and I can't keep up with them - WHO ARE WORKING FULL TIME. Aaaaaaaaaaaarrrrggggggggghhhhhhh too!

Thanks so much ladies - I feel better about it all today and violethill you are absolutely right! I wouldn't tade my place for anything. It just feels all a bit too much at times.

I do love my job, and i do have a partner (albeit not the father of my child so I take most of the hands on stuff like bedtime/ bathroom stuff etc) We share the house work 50/50 and work the same hours.

Sounds like just a bit of a bad day then, chin up and on you go - hope you have a nice rest of the week.

Tee hee, thanks sequins!!!